Job Req ID: 20385

Personal Advisor - Leaving and After Care Service

Fixed Term, Full Time

£31,931 to £36,423 per annum

Location: Essex

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 3rd September 2025

This is a 12 month fixed term with an opportunity to support young people who are care experienced to gain suitable accommodation and reduce the risk of becoming or actually being homeless.

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 2-3 day per week, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

The Opportunity:

This post is funded by the DFE and supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 12 months to provide specific interventions to aid good housing outcomes and a reduction in homelessness for young people who have exited care.

The purpose of the Homelessness Personal Advisor is specific to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping for care leavers and support those care leaves that are homeless to access suitable accommodation. It is a non-case holding position and work is generated through referral from the allocate worker.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency.  Driving licence and car with business use insurance or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Accountabilities:

• Work alongside the allocated worker to support, facilitate, negotiate appropriate accommodation across Essex County Council and attend all Leaving & After Care Team locations – Harlow, Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester.
• Provide practical, personal and emotional support to children, young people in order to meet assessed need; to maintain and promote their health, physical, emotional development and well-being in relation to their accommodation. This may include domestic tasks and transporting where necessary.
• Specifically support and advise young people leaving care in key areas that will impact on their Accommodation/Housing.
• Facilitate, directly and indirectly the assessment of need, engaging with the ongoing monitoring and reassessment over time
• Identify and support young people to overcome barriers to accommodation, enable and empower young people to make decisions in their lives and to self-advocate, as well as advocate on behalf of young people who do not have the skills to do this.
• Contribute to the Pathway Plan held by the allocated worker, from the assessment which creates a viable response to established need over time.
• Be prepared to work in a variety of ways, apart from direct work with individuals, for example in groups, running sessions at “Drop ins” etc.
• Work alongside colleagues both within Social Care and from other agencies, and to engage with significant people in the young person’s life (members of the family, community etc).
• Develop improved joint working between Leaving Care Services, Housing and other key Local Authorities and third sector services.
• Offer consultation to Leaving and After Care staff on accommodation.
• To develop good links with Housing Officers to assist in timely problem solving and decision making.
• Collation and completion of Quarterly Monitoring Return to MHCLG with support from L&AC Housing Lead.
• Maintain records and write reports as required in accordance with Directorate Policy and Procedures.
• Attend meetings as required by the Line Manager, e.g. reviews, planning meetings. NEST.
• Maintain an awareness of relevant information and resources that may assist children, young people and their support network.
• Keep abreast of practice developments through reading and attending training courses.
• Be aware of and act within the Essex Child Protection Guidelines.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• At least obtained a NVQ Level 3 that relates to children and young people.
• Experience of working with looked after children/ care leavers, in a statutory setting.
• Experience in collaborating with other professionals and agencies for the benefit of the service user.
• Experience of housing issues for young people who are care experienced.
• Knowledge of adolescents and adolescent issues and an understanding of trauma informed practice.
• A commitment to working relationships which promote and support the service users’ developing into independence.
• A commitment to one’s own personal and professional development.
• Familiarity with the principles of the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and Children and Social Work Act 2018.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive.  The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude to these duties which may have to be varied after discussion, subject to the needs of the service. This may take the post holder out of hours on various occasions.

Please note Personal Advisor will not:

• Have an allocated caseload.
• Be named as key worker in a Child Protection case.
• Have sole responsibility for assessment and review – they should contribute to assessment, undertake specific assessment tasks and monitor identified issues in conjunction with social work staff.
• Work in an unsupported or unprotected way.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency.  Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Why Essex? 

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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